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BY THE 

bennington battle 
Monument Association 



No vigor of yomh, no maturity of manhood will lead the na- 
tion to forget the spots where its infancy was cradled and de- 
fended. — Daniel Webster. 



Monuments make as well as mark the civilization of a 
people. — Horatio Seymour. 

A. S. BAK.SU & SON, PRINTERS, BENNINGTON, VT. 









OFFICERS 

OF THE 

BENNINGTON BATTLE 

MONUMENT ASSOCIATION. 

FOR THE YEAR 1878. 

President. 
His Excellency Hon. Horace Fairbanks, Governor of Vermont- 

Vice President. 
Hon. Hiland Hall of North Bennington. 

Corresponding Secretary. 
Charles M. Bliss of Bennington. 

Recording Secretary. 
Olin Scott of Bennington. 

Treasurer. 
*Milo C. Huling of Bennington. 

The Board of Directors. 
His Excellency Hon. Horace Fairbanks, Governor of Vermont. 
His Excellency Hon. Benjamin F. Prescot, Governor of New- 
Hampshire. 
His Excellency Hon. Alex. H. Rice, Governor of Massachusetts. 
Hon. Edward J. Phelps of Burlington. 
Hon. A. B. Gardner of Bennington. 
Hon. Henry G. Root of Bennington. 
Rev. Isaac Jennings of Bennington. 

^Resigned and Luther R. Graves, Esq. President of The First Na- 
tional Bank of Bennington, elected instead. 



-*& 



BY THE 

bennington battle 
Monument Association 



No vigor of youth, no maturity of manhood will lead the na- 
tion to ^orget the spots where its infancy was cradled and de- 
fended. — * Daniel Webster. , 



Monuments make as well as mark the civilization of a 
people. — Horatio Seymour. 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. 

To the Public : — 

By its act of incorporation the Bennington Battle Monument 
Association was directed to "take measures to secure at Ben- 
nington during the week of the 16th of August, 1877, an appro- 
priate Centennial celebration of the Battle of Bennington, and 
the recognition of the year 1877 as the 100th year of the exist- 
ence of Vermont as an independent State." 

As no celebration of the Battle of Bennington could be an 
"appropriate " one that did not recognize the part which New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts took in that battle, the Governors 
and other State officers, together with the Legislatures of these 

*Daniel Webster's father, Ebenezer Webster, was a captain in the Battle of Ben- 
nington. 



two States were invited to join Vermont in this celebration. 
Another essential element of appropriateness (for the victory at 
Bennington was the turning point in the war of the Revolution) 
was the recognition, on the part of the Association, of the general 
government, and accordingly the President of the United States, 
and the Vice-President, the members of the Cabinet and other 
officials in high position in the government, together with the 
Governors of the several States were invited to be present. In 
view of the kindly feeling existing between the United States 
and Great Britain, and with a view to perpetuate this, the Asso- 
ciation considered it "appropriate " to invite a prominent repre- 
sentative of the British Crown to participate in the exercises, and 
accordingly an invitation was extended through the Governor of 
Vermont, President of the Association, to the Governor-General 
of Canada to attend the celebration. As New Hampshire, Ver- 
mont and Massachusetts furnished singularly enough, each, a 
leader in the battle, of a distinctive and marked character, the 
surviving grand-children of Stark and Warner, and " Parson 
Allen " were appropriately invited. Arrangements for a militan 
pageant were made, as necessarily " appropriate," and literary 
exercises of a high order and a superb banquet were early pro- 
vided for. 

The attention of the country at large was directed to Ben- 
nington as it had at no time been, since a century previous all 
eyes were turned to the little army gathered here to resist the 
invasion of Burgoyne; and the appropriateness of the prepara- 
tions was everywhere acknowledged. The importance of the 
occasion too, was fully appreciated by the country, and the invi- 
tation of Vermont was so cordially responded to that the Cen- 
tennial Celebration of the Battle of Bennington on the 16th of 
August, 1877, was fully equal to any of the celebrations of the 
centennial period, save alone the half a year's jubilee at Phila- 
delphia in 1876. 

On the previous day, the 15th, Vermont's Centennial was ob- 
served, and this, too, was unsurpassed by any of the minor cen- 
tennials of the country. 

The Association then has complied with the injunction of the 
statute; and without assuming to have obtained absolute per- 
fection in the art of celebrating — an art as yet far from perfect in 
America — it purposes now, and in a spirit of entire self-abnega- 
tion to address itself to the further work it was directed to do. 



THE MONUMENT. 

The Association is required to erect and maintain "a suitable 
monument commemorative of the achievements of Gen. John 
Stark and the patriot soldiers of Vermont, New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts at the decisive battle of Bennington fought on the 
16th of August, 1777 ;" and it will receive from the State for this 
purpose the sum of $1 5,000 as soon as it " has raised and is in actual 
possession of available funds to the amount of $5,000." As the 
States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts with Vermont 
fought the battle of Bennington without the aid of the general 
government, the Governor of Vermont was " directed to invite, 
in the name of the State, the States of New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts to unite with the State of Vermont in erecting a 
battle monument at Bennington." 

As the Legislature of Massachusetts was the first to convene 
after the passage of the act of incorporation, the Governor of Ver- 
mont sent to the Governor of Massachusetts in pursuance of 
this act the following communication : 

State of Vermont, Executive Department, 
St. Johnsbury, Dec. 30, 1876. 
To His Excellency Hon. Alexander H. Rice, Governor 

of Massachusetts. 
Dear Sir :— 

I have the honor to transmit herewith to your Excellency, a 
copy of an act passed at the recent session of the Legislature of 
this State, in which I am directed to invite, in the name of the 
State, the States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts to unite 
with Vermont in erecting a monument at Bennington in memo- 
ry of the heroes of the battle of Bennington. 

In complying with this request, I feel sure I give expression 
to the earnest desire of all the citizens of this State ; and as the 
States of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont together 
won this decisive victory, it seems eminently fitting that they 
should together observe the centennial anniversary of the great 
event, by joining in the erection of a monument to the memory 
of the men who wrought so nobly, sacrificed so grandly, and died 
so bravely. 

Trusting that Massachusetts will heartily co-operate with 
Vermont and New Hampshire in this proposal to do honor to 
their patriot dead, 

I remain, your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

Horace Fairbanks. 

A similar communication was sent to Gov. Prescott of New 
Hampshire at a later date. 



In answer to this invitation the two States readily re- 
sponded in suitable appropriations for the proposed monu- 
ment. Massachusetts contributing $7,500 and New Hampshire 
$5,000. Vermont invited the co-operation of her sister States on 
the ground of an interest co-equal with her own in the honors won 
at Bennington, in this light was the subject viewed in both 
States, and on this ground in both States were the appropriations 
made. 

With the appropriations in both States were coupled the 
very proper conditions that the Governor of each State 
should approve of the design for. the monument and "be satis- 
fied that funds are provided from other sources, including the 
sums appropriated, sufficient to complete the monument accord- 
ing to the plans approved by him." 

It is proper to observe here that the Association has not yet 
adopted or considered any plan or design for a monument, nor 
will it officially consider any except in conference with the Gov- 
ernors of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It is not yet at 
all certain how much money the Association will have at its 
disposal for monumental purposes, and until that time arrives 
designs are premature. Suffice it to say that it is the deliberate 
opinion of this Association, that no attempt should be made at 
erecting a monument until the Association has collected and 
has in its possession a sum sufficient to erect and maintain a 
monument which shall be by its size, its artistic character and 
imposing effect, worthy of the three States which have so prop- 
erly taken the initiative in its erection, worthy of the nation 
whose ultimate independence was here made sure, and capable 
— so far as monumental art is capable — of commemorating the 
great event it is designed to signalize. The faith of the Asso- 
ciation is pledged to the States which have made appropriations 
for the proposed monument ; it is pledged to all who shall con- 
tribute to it, that when the structure is once begun, the funds 
shall be in its treasury to complete it. No debt in any event 
shall be created, nor shall any half completed pile be left to 
mortify the generous contributors to the funds for its erection, 
and to attest the bad faith of the Association. 

It will readily be seen from the foregoing statement that it 
now becomes the duty of the Association to raise such a sum 
of money as will enable it to avail itself of the Vermont appro- 
priation, and such further sum as will be necessary to erect and 



maintain a monument 'suitable to commemorate the achieve- 
ments ' of the men who won the victory at Bennington, — a vic- 
tory says Bancroft, " One of the most brilliant and eventful of 
the war and achieved spontaneously by the husbandmen of New 
Hampshire, Vermont and western Massachusetts." 

The Association has closed up its accounts and paid the 
expenses of the Centennial Celebrations, amounting in all to 
some $13,000, not including about $1,000 P a ^ d bv tne town of 
Bennington for police purposes. The funds for the expense of 
the Centennial week, except the sum of $2,000 which the State 
appropriated for the purpose, were furnished mainly by volun- 
tary subscription by citizens of Vermont.* As Vermont was 
the host on the occasion, it seemed proper to permit only resi- 
dents, or the State itself, to bear the burden of expense though 
aid was offered by patriotic Vermonters abroad ; but in the erec- 
tion of the monument which is to perpetuate the memory of the 
men of 1777 regardless of Siate lines, not only the sons of 
Vermont, but the sons of New Hampshire and Massachusetts 
should be permitted and invited to share. That they will be 
proud of this privilege, especially those whose ancestors fought 
here, the Association is fully assured, not only from the nature 
of the case but from the eloquent lips of one of their most hon- 
ored representatives. Said the Hon. Thomas Allen, a grandson 
of Massachusetts' "fighting parson," at the Centennial banquet: 

u The Battle of Bennington appears second in importance to 
none that was fought during the Revolutionary war. To the 
combined volunteer forces of New Hampshire, Vermont and 
Berkshire county of Massachusetts we are indebted for the glo- 
rious results of the 16th of August, 1777. Ever memorable and 
honorable should we hold the men by whose heroic efforts the 
victory was achieved. As these States were honored and their 
cause saved by these their brave sons, the event deserves to be 
celebrated, and monumental granite should rise to mark the 
spot and perpetuate its glories." 

"As for the descendants of Parson Allen, inheriting his spirit 
of patriotism, some of them have been in every war carried on 
under the flag of the United States since the Revolution. Some 
sixty of them to-day living in this land, but scattered from Maine 

*As a business transaction two railroads out of the State, the Troy & Boston in 
New York and the Fitchburg in Massachusetts, entered into an arrangement with 
the Executive Committee of the Vermont Centennial Commission by which some 
$800 were netted to the treasury of the Association, a transaction which bespeaks 
for these corporations the thankful regard of the Association. 



6 

to Texas, take a lively interest in this day's celebration, and will 
no doubt take equal pride and pleasure in contributing to per- 
petuate the glorious memories of the Battle of Bennington." 

Nor will contributions from any source he declined by the 
Association; for though the Bennington victory was the work of 
these States yet its fruits were enjoyed by the nation. Gov- 
ernor Miller, of Arkansas, in his letter to the Governor of Ver- 
mont regretting his inability to attend the celebration, but ex- 
pressing his sympathy with its object well says : — " The recol- 
lections and triumphs of such an event are the propertv of the 
whole American people." 

The Association in setting forth the work to be done at Ben- 
nington cannot omit to mention that the erection of a monu- 
ment is but a part of it, although for the rest it is not responsi- 
ble. Already has beginning been made; the site of the Cata- 
mount Tavern — the headquarters of Ethan Allen and his Green 
Mountain Boys, and of the Council of Safety, Vermont's provis- 
ional government at the time of the Battle of Bennington — was 
on the 16th August, 1876, marked by placing in position with 
appropriate ceremonies the pedestal of a monument, a granite 
block of seven tons weight, to be surmounted with a catamount 
in bronze. The bronze is committed to the sculptor T. H. 
Bartlett, a native of Bennington County, now residing in Paris, 
for execution. It is contemplated to likewise mark all the 
historic localities in and about Bennington, particularly the 
battle-field with the places of its two engagements, the site of 
Parson Dewey's " Meet'n House," the house where Col. Baum 
died, the spot where General Stark made his famous laconic 
speech — a score or more in all. 

The site of the old Continental Store-House — the objective 
point of Baum's detachment* — is to be designated by the Battle 
Monument, the Association having formally located the structure 
on that historic spot. Aside from this appropriateness the 
beauty of the situation also commends it for such a purpose. It 
is at Bennington Centre — the Bennington of Revolutionary fame 

* ll A large Scout of the Enemy are disposed to take a Tour for this post.'" * * * 
•'the Continental Stores at Bennington seem to be their present aim. 11 — Circular of 
the Vermont Council of Safety to military officers, Manchester. July 15th, 1877. 

"As we have large stores deposited in this place.*'— Circular of Col. Moses Robin- 
son and other citizens of Bennington asking for aid, July 8th, 1777. 

"As there is a large continental store kept here, of provisions and ammunition, 
for the use of the continent. 11 — Council of Safetv to Gen. Gates, Bennington, Oct. 
•25. 1777. 



— and on the highest ground in that village. Situated here it 
will be visible from every point for miles around. From its sum- 
mit will be seen the different historic localities with which the 
vicinity abounds, and it will command a view of a landscape, the 
beauty of which equals that described with rare felicitv, bv 
the English officer Glick, as seen from the heights of the 
battle-field on the memorable morning of the 16th of August. 
1777 — and with the civilization of a century added. Placed 
here in so conspicuous a position it will be seen by the traveler 
who enters the State from the west or south by either of the two 
railroads which wind at the base of the hill on which it stands; 
and it will remind him that he has arrived on the soil of Xew 
England, among a people whose ancestors performed heroic 
deeds, and are proud of them. " No people," said Horatio 
Seymour, at Schuylerville, " ever held lasting power or greatness 
who did not reverence the virtues of their fathers, or who did 
not show forth this reverence by material and striking testimo- 
nials." 

The Association in concluding this statement would say that 
it has undertaken the work which is imposed upon it with a full 
sense of its responsibilities. It will be mindful of its obligations 
to the States of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts 
and to all, whether States or individuals, who shall commission 
it directly or indirectly to execute their trusts. It will further- 
more never cease to remember that the descendants of those 
whose heroism here was the occasion of this proposed monument, 
have a claim upon it of no ordinary magnitude. To them, next 
to the memory of their fathers, it owes its most sacred duties 
and of the latter it will never, forget 

" That men will hold the memorr dear 
Of those who bled for freedom here : 
And guard the rights their valor won. 
While these .green hill-sides greet the sun." 

HORACE FAIRBANKS, President. 
CHAS. M. BLISS. Secretary. 



THE LAW OF VERMONT RELATING TO THE BEN- 
NINGTON MONUMENT AND CELEBRATION. 

AX ACT TO INCORPORATE THE BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT 
ASSOCIATION. 



// is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ver- 
mont: 

Sec. 1. Hiland Hall. Horace Fairbanks. W. H. H. Bingham. Justin S 'Morrill E J 
Phelps. G^o. F. Edmunds. Isaac Jermirgs. Trenor W. Park.* John B. Page. Jacob 
Estey. E. P. Walton. John Gregory Smi h. Asahel Peck. John W. Stewart. Abraham 
B. Gardner^ Paul Dillingham. Harmon Oanfield. Edward Seymour. Burnam Martin. 
Frederick Billings. Franklin Butler. Jed. P. Ladd. Mason "S. Colburn. Edward A 
Sowles. Carroll S. Page. E. D. Mason. W. W. Grout. E. P. Colton. G*>o. X. Dale. Duane 
L. Kent. Gilbert A. Davis, Homer Goodhue. Milo C. Huling\ J Henrv Guild Geo W 



Farwell, Oscar E. Butterfiield, Cyrus Jennings. E. D. Blodgett. Bedfield Proctor. 
John Love joy Mason. Eben Graves, Hiram Barton: and Seth B.Hunt. H. Henrv 
Baxter, and Win. M. Evarts. of the city of New York: Samuel B. Sanford and 
Daniel Robinson, of Troy, N. Y.;and Sidney Squires, of Boston, Massachusetts, with 
seven persons to be elected annually in January by the Bennington Historical 
Society, are hereby constituted, with their associates and successors, a body politic 
and corporate by the name of the Bennington Battle Monument Association", for the 
purpose of erecting and maintaining a suitable monument commemorative of the 
achievements of General John Stark and the patriot soldiers of Vermont, New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts, at the decisive battle of Bennington, fought on the 
16th of August, 1777. with all the rights and powers incident to corporations: and 
said corporation shall be located at Bennington, and may have a common seal and 
the same alter at pleasure: may sue and be sued; may make such laws and regula- 
tions as may be necessary, not inconsistent with the laws of this State; and may 
take and hold by gift, purchase, devise, or otherwise, real and personal estate to the 
amount of $30,000. and the same manage and dispose of for the purposes of said 
corporation. 

Sec. 2. Thegovernor, lieutenant-governor, speaker of the house of representatives, 
and the chief justice of the supreme c >urt shall be members ex-officio of this corpora- 
tion; and said corporation at their first meeting, or at any annual meeting, may 
elect by ballot any number of persons not exceeding sixty in all. exclusive of the 
members ex-officio, to be members of the corporation. 

Sec. 3. At their first annual meeting said corporation shall elect a president, a 
vice-president, a treasurer, a secretary and board of directors, and may elect other 
officers as they shall see fit. The treasurer shall give bonds in such sum as the 
directors shall determine, and these maybe increased from time to time as they 
may order. 

Sec. 4. The governor is hereby directed to invite, in the name of this State, the 
States of New Hampshire and .Massachusetts to unite with the State of Vermont in 
erecting a battle monument at Bennington. 

Sec. 5. No moneys appropriated by the State shall be expended by this association 
in the erection of a monument until' sufficient sums shall have been accumulated by 
the association to complete it. . 

Sec. 6. This association shall at their lirst annual meeting take measures to secure 
at Bennington, during the week of the Kit li of August. 1877, an appropriate cen- 
tennial celebration of the battle of Bennington, and also the recognition of the year 
1877 as the 100th year of the existence of this State as an independent g 

Sec. 7. The auditor of accounts is hereby directed to draw his order on the 
treasurer of the State in favor of the treasurer of this association for the sum of 
$15,000 upon receiving satisfactory proof that said association has raised and is in 
actual possession of available funds to the amount $5,000 to be expended for the 
erection of a b ittle monument at Bennington: he is also directed to draw a further 
order for the sum of $2,000 for purpose of carrying out the provisions of section six. 
provided the association shall raise' the sum of $2,000 for this purpose. 

Sec. 8. The first meeting of this corporation shall beheld without further notice on 
the second "Wednesday in January. A. D. 1877, a' the court house in said town of 
Bennington, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, at which meeting any ten of said cor- 
porators shall be a quorum for business. 

Sec. 9. This act shall take effect from its passage. Approved November 28th. 
1876 

THE ACTION OF MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred 
and Seventy-Seven. RESOLVES Relating to the Celebration of the Centennial 
Anniversary of the Battle of Bennington, and in aid of erecting a Monument in 
commemoration of the same. 

Resolved, That the Legislature of Massachusetts accept the invitation of the 
Governor of Vermont, transmitted by direction of the Legislature of the State, to 
unite with the States of Vermont and New Hampshire in commemorating the 
centennial anniversary of the battle of Bennington on the 16th of August next. 

Resolved. That a sum not exceeding seven thousand five hundred dollars be 
allowed and paid out of the treasury in aid of the erection of a monument in com- 
memoration of the battle of Bennington, to be paid to the treasurer of the Benning- 
ton Battle Monument Association, a corporation established under the laws or Ver- 
mont, at such time and in such sums as his Excellency the Governor may direct : 
provided, that no part of such sum. shall be paid until the plans of said monument 
shall be approved by the Governor, and until he shall be satisfied that funds are 
provided from other sources including the sum herein appropriated, sufficient to 
complete the monument according to the plans approved by him. 

[This appropriation was made in May. 1877. In July following the Legislature of 
New Hampshire appropriated $5.00") on conditions precisely similar.] 



The Bennington Battle Monument. 



[From the Burlington Free Pree & Times, Jan. 
2bth, 1878,] 

The recent meeting of the Directors of 
the Bennington Battle Monument Asso- 
ciation (held at Bennington on the 16th 
inst)., was an important meeting. There 
were present Gov. Prescott, of New 
Hampshire — who came from his home 
expressly to attend the meeting, and 
who presided over it— Hon. E. J. Phelps 
of this city, and Hon. A. B. Gardner, 
Hon. H. G. Root, and Rev. Isaac Jen- 
nings of Bennington. The Governors of 
Massachusetts and Vermont were una- 
voidably absent. After a full and har- 
monious discussion, the following resolu- 
tion, introduced by Mr. Phelps, was 
unanimously adopted, with the hearty 
approval of every director: 

Resolved, That it is the sense of this 
Board that the monument we propose to 
erect, shall be in the true sense of the 
term a Work of Art, worthy of the 
States which have contributed to it, and 
of their children everywhere, and char- 
acterized by the correct and dignified 
taste \\ hieh ought to control in the crea- 
tion of all permanent public memorials. 

The character of the gentlemen who 
form the Boaid of Control of the Monu- 
ment Association (a list of whom i* 
given), furnishes the best guaranty that 
this resolution will be fully carried out. 
The Board comprises in rare degree the 
combination of cultivated taste, good 
sense, practical business talent, public 
spirit and the highest personal charac- 
ter and standing, needed to cany into 
effect the purposes of the Association. 
Such names afford the highest assur- 
ance that the object of the organization 
will be prosecuted with vigor and effi- 
ciency; that no jobbery will be connect- 
ed with it; and that the completed mon- 
ument will not add another to the list 
of monstrosities in art and architecture 
which already disfigure so many public 
places in our country. 



The purpose of these gentlemen, it is 
hardly necessary to say, contemplates no 
small or insignificant work. The appro- 
priations of the States of Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts and New Hampshire (with 
the additional sum of $5,000 on which 
the appropriation of this State was con- 
ditioned, which may be considered as 
already pledged), make available for the 
monument a fund of $32,500. The di- 
rectors resolved to increase this to 
$75,0o0, and took measures to secure the 
additional amount through appeals to 
the patriotism and public spirit of t lie 
citizens of the three States, and to the 
sons of New Hampshire, Maseachusetts 
and Vermont residing in other States. 
The response which may be expected 
from the latter is seen in the action of 
the sons of Vermont in Illinois, at their 
recent reunion in Chicago, pledging, in 
advance of any request, their active in- 
terest and substantial help. 

We cannot doubt that the amount 
contemplated will be raised without 
serious delay. All that is needed to 
secure it, is the assurance that tie en- 
terprise is in hands which will push it 
±o completion in a manner worthy of 
the object. Such assurance, as we have 
said, is afforded in the composition and 
character of the Board. No o;*e who 
knows the men can doubt that the re- 
sult will be a thing of beauty and digni- 
ty, worthy of the historic event to be 
commemorated by it, worthy of the 
three States interested 1 in it, worthy of 
the noble site selected for it, something 
not for a day, but for a thousand years; 
a worthy memorial, calculated to arouse 
the patriotic feeling, to stir the pride, 
and to unite the interests of the descend- 
ants of the men who shall join in its 
erection though many coming genera- 
tions. 



PROSPECTUS 

OF THE VOLUME TO BE ISSUED BY THE BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT 
ASSOCIATION GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF VERMONT'S CENTENNIAL AND THE 
CENTENNIAL OF THE BATTLE OF BENNINGTON. 

At a meeting of the Bennington Battle Monument Association held 
October 1st, 1877, the secretary was directed to issue a prospectus of 
the Association's proposed Volume on the late Centennial Celebrations, 
and he would therefore respectfully announce on behalf of the Asso- 
ciation that the Volume will contain a succinct account of the Cele- 
bration of the 100th year of Vermont's existence as a State, held at 
Bennington on the 15th of August, 1877, and of the Centennial at.i.i- 
versary of the Battle of Bennington on the 16th. 

It will contain in full the welcoming address of the Hon. E. J. 
Phelps, President of the Vermont Centennial Commission, the oration 
of the Hon, Daniel Roberts, and the poem of Mrs. Julia C. R. Doir, 
of Win. Cullen Bryant, and the speech of the President of the United 
States on the 16th. It will contain in full the speeches <>l Gov. Fair- 
banks, of Vermont, Gov. Prescott, of New Hampshire, and Lieut- 
Gov. Knight, of Massachusetts, delivered at the banquet on the 16th. 
It will also contain extended abstracts of the speeches of the Mem- 
bers of the Cabinet, and of other distinguished guests, made on both 
days — Ex-Gov. Harriman's and Gen. Hawley's on the 15th, in full. 
It will contain the hymns that were sung, and the public prayers t hat 
were offered. There will be given a list of the distinguished visitors 
who were present, and of the visiting bodies, societies and organiza- 
tions, civic and military, with short histories of the latter. 

As the Vermont Militia were encamped at Bennington from the 
11th to the 16th, at their annual muster, their proceedings v. ii] be 
recounted. 

The religious services of Sunday , the 12th, at the place <>1 worship 
of the First Church, the oldest in'Vermont, and which partook of a-: 
anniversary character, will be noticed. 

On Tuesday, the 14th, was held the annual meeting of tl e Vermont 
Editors' and Publishers' Association, on which occasion, the Hon. E. 
P. Walton, its President, gave an address containing the history of 
Vermont printing, which will be published in the volume, with the 
proceedings of the Pres-; organization. 

The Vermont Veterans were encamped at Bennington from the 14th 
to the 17th, and their partk ipation in the exercises will receive proper 
attention. 

The committee which had charge of the literary exercises were 
offered numerous poems to be read, a great-grand-daughter each of 
"Landlord Fay" and "Parson Alien" contributing one. Some of these 
were highly meritorious, but no place could be found for them in the 
public proceedings. Such as are appropriate will appear in the appen- 
dix to the volume. 

The sketch of the Battle of Bennington prepared by Ex-Gov. Hiland 
Hall, in March, 1877, will find a place here too; as will also the Hon. 
Frank W. Bird's report to the Massachusetts Legislature, an excel- 
lent monograph of Berkshire's part in the battle. 

The letters which were written by the Governor-General of Canada, 
State Governors, and other distinguished men who were unable to 
attend, will be given. 

The book will be an octavo of 250 or more pages, and will be illus- 
trated with numerous engravings. 

The price of the book and its date of publication will be announced 

CHAS. M. BLISS. Secretary. 
Bennington, Vt, Dec. 1st, 1877. 



ERRATA.— After the words Mrs. Julia C. R. Dorr, read the follow- 
ing line: "delivered on the 15th; also the oration of President Bartlett, 
the ode." The second date in the paragraph relating to the Vermont 
Militia should be the 19th. 






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